Madagascar

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Transcript of Madagascar

Madagascar Christian Barrios & Matt StangeGeo 101A-04 Lemurs Lemurs are strepsirhini primates that are found exclusively on the island of Madagascar.

A few species of lemurs include sifakas (top), hissy ring tailed lemurs (bottom left), and aye-ayes (bottom right). Physical geography of Madagascar Madagascar is located at 18.3714*S and 47.5424*E off the coast of South East Africa in the Indian Ocean.

It is 224,533 square miles. And roughly the size of texas.

There are mountainous regions, forests, and plains. sources wildmadagascar.org Baobab trees found throughout the island of madagascar www.fco.gov.uk Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island. Small Scale Map Population: 22,585,517 Capital: Antanarivo Climate Madagascar is climatically a sub-tropical island, the temperatures vary. Daytime temperatures on the high central plateau are 87 degrees in January and 59 degrees in July. Most of the country has adequate rainfall besides the south, which is the poorest and driest region of Madagascar. Cyclones have been known to cause extensive flooding and damage to Madagascar. Madagascar is known for it's bio-diversity and high proportion of endemic species. Because of slash and burn agriculture and poor management, only 21.6% of the land remains forested. Endemic Flora and Fauna Madagascar is known for its unique flora and fauna. Most of which resulted of its breaking and isolation from Africa over thousands of years ago.

Endemic species exclusive to Madagascar include Lemurs and some species of geckos and chameleons.

There is also a wide variety of plant life that is unique to Madagascar. Avenue of Baobabs Located 15 kilometers north of Morondava. Also known as the upside-down tree. These tree can reach heights of 98 feet high and 36 feet wide in diameter. The Baobab tree is the national tree of Madagascar and is one of the most photographed spots in the country. The fruits of the baobab are highly nutritious, containing more vitamin C than oranges. The fruit pulp can be eaten directly or mixed with various meals and drinks. The best time to visit the Baobab Avenue are at sunset and sunrise when the colors of the trunk change and the long shadows of the trees are most pronounced. www.madacamp.com Destruction In Madagascar Antananarivo (Tana) This is the largest city of Madagascar and also the Capital. The city is situated inland, about 90 miles from the east coast. Means "the city of a thousand". Gained it independence from the french in 1960. In 1895, the French took over and expanded it greatly to include many new buildings and roads. Today, Antananarivo has a population of about 1.4 million people. Because Madagascar is a developing country the city faces lots of poverty, pollution, and a crumbling infrastructure. www.goafrica.about.com Natural Disasters Cyclone Irina & Giovanna Killed 65 people and 70,000 were left homeless. This storm struck only two weeks after Cyclone Giovanna, which killed 35 and left 240,000 homeless. Prone to cyclones and tropical storms, especially in the rainy season between February and May. (2012) Resulting in 100 deaths and 300,00 homeless. More than 200,000 known species are found on Madagascar, about 150,000 exist nowhere else. Quick Information Slash and burn agriculture or Tavy is the lifeblood of the Malagasy culture and economy. The land is then used to make rice fields, this is the way many Malagasy provide for their family. Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDmcxisClX4&playnext=1&list=PLBAEB7293B6BA9BA0&feature=results_video The Spiny Forrest The Spiny Forest of Madagascar is a desert ecoregion located on the southwestern area of the island. The most prominent plants found here are of the didieraeceae family, most closely related to the cacti.

Ring-tailed lemurs have adapted to live and climb in the spiny forest without injuring themselves. They even jump from tree to tree. The people of Madagascar Natives of Madagascar are called the Malagasy people.

Their origins are in East Africa, Borneo, and Southeast Asia.

41% of the population is christian, 7% islam, and 52% practice indigenous beliefs.

The official languages of Madagascar are French and Malagasy

Malagasy cuisine reflects influences from southeast Asia, Africa, Indian, Chinese, and European Migrants. The Aye-aye One of the most interesting lemurs is the aye-aye. Local people believe the aye-aye is a demon that brings bad luck. Because of this, aye-ayes are regularly hunted and killed on sight. Due to their hunting and deforestation, aye-ayes are categorized as a threatened species. www.travelmadagascar.org